Rowlinson Packaging: Sustainable timber, from forest to factory

Environmental sustainability is the responsibility of individuals and businesses globally to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support health and well-being, now and in the future. This sustainability mindset has led the team here at Rowlinson Packaging Ltd towards internal decision-making in regard to the methods by which we source our timber and manufacture all of our bespoke timber packaging.

What is responsible sourcing?

In concept responsible sourcing is about risk management within a supply chain, for Rowlinson Packaging Ltd this process has been the incorporation of ethical, sustainable and socially conscious principles within our procurements and manufacturing processes.

As a globally recognised company, we ensure that all timber procured for our timber packaging meets these standards. Working directly with sawmills within the UK, when sourcing local timber, ensures that all procured timber is legally sourced, not contributing to modern slavery or deforestation.

Where does Rowlinson Packaging source our timber?

To be able to manufacture each bespoke product we offer to our customer’s specifications, such as our export packaging and metal edge cases, sourcing timber from overseas is a necessary process to ensure the packaging is economical and robust enough for transport.

Working with UK-based agents that work directly with sawmills in countries such as Sweden and Finland, timber is sustainably shipped over to our facility in Nantwich, Cheshire for processing and manufacturing.

This process ensures all the timber we acquire from overseas complies with UK Timber Regulations (UKTR). Put in place from 1st January 2021 these regulations oversee timber supply chains ensuring harvesting practices are legal, encouraging sustainable harvesting practices and supporting global forest governance.

Rowlinson Packaging Ltd works actively to comply with the standards set out by these regulations to be certain that no illegally harvested timber enters the UK market and our customers are able to fully utilise their timber packaging globally.

Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Rowlinson Packaging Ltd made an internal decision to no longer purchase any Russian material, this led to us finding suitable sustainable alternatives without wavering on quality.

Sustainable timber packaging, how Rowlinson Packaging plays our part

Consistently compiling information including the species, quantity, supplier and country of harvest of the timber we manufacture at our facility our expert team ensures all our sustainable materials are tracked as they enter the production line not only so the correct timber is utilised for specific packaging but to maintain a constant knowledgebase on our sustainable development goals as a company.

A big piece of Rowlinson Packaging Ltd’s sustainable development goals was the installation of our new green energy system, in the form of a biomass waste material burner. This allows any and all waste timber from old unusable packaging to be turned into energy which heats our facility and runs our timber kilns. Removing the need to have waste collected from the site thus reducing our carbon footprint.

Utilising this new innovation, we are able to treat our timber as needed once it has reached our Cheshire facility in a more sustainable manner. Depending on the designated timber being manufactured the materials may need to be ISPM15-treated or kiln-dried in order to be stored correctly. This process ensures no non-autochthonous animal or plant materials are distributed within the timber that may be parasitic to indigenous life.

Once our team have ensured all necessary sustainability steps have been taken to treat our incoming timber, each individual timber package is labelled correctly and stored accordingly.

Sustainable packaging from around the world

Leading the UK industry in timber packaging, Rowlinson Packaging Ltd is at the forefront of ensuring the complete forest-to-factory process is as responsible and sustainable as possible, striving forward no matter any difficulties we may face within our timber sourcing processes.

With the recent impact of Covid-19 on industries around the world, global events such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and seasonal growth changes Rowlinson Packaging Ltd as a team is constantly having to adapt and find the best possible solutions to robust, manufacturable timber that conserves natural resources and protect global ecosystems.

If you’re looking for an industry-leading sustainable timber packaging manufacturer within the UK that can supply wooden pallets, plywood cases, warehouse containers and more to all regions of the nation, you can contact our Nantwich team at 01829 260 571 or get in touch through our contact form or email [email protected]

This article was originally published by Rowlinson Packaging.